Five members of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's track & field team have earned All-East Region recognition from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Wednesday. The top-five individuals in each event from each region earned All-Region.
Both Senior Andrew Swallow and freshman David Bennett were recognized in two events. Swallow earned the honor in both the shot put and discus, while Bennett picked up awards for the 200 and 400-meter dash. Sophomore Cameron Rodgers was honored for the 400-meter hurdles, while graduate student Mike Volkmann and freshman Connor Richard each were named All-Region in the javelin.
Now a two-time All-Region selection and the Little East Conference (LEC) Field Athlete of the Year, Swallow finished the season ranked second in the region in the shot put. His season-best throw of 15.51m came at the Tufts Sunshine Classic (4/23), that toss ranks fourth in UMass Dartmouth history. Swallow also won the individual championship at the LEC championships for the fourth-straight year in the shot with a distance of 14.86m (4/30), and won the event at the Corsair Classic with a throw of 14.80m (4/2). A native of Framingham, Mass., Swallow set the UMass Dartmouth program record in the discus at the LEC Championships (46.95m), which is the fourth best mark in the region.
Another two-event award winner and the LEC Track Rookie of the Year, Bennett closed the year with the second best time in the region in the 400-meter dash. his time of 47.57 at Open New England's (5/13) is a UMass Dartmouth program record and qualified him for nationals. Bennett also ran 400 times of 48.93 at Tufts (4/23), 49.22 at Westfield (4/16), and 51.10 at the Corsair Classic (4/2). From Newton, Mass., Bennett holds the fourth best time in the 200-meter dash in the region to secure All-Region honors in the event. His best time of 21.69, which is a UMassD record, came at the Tufts Sunshine Classic (4/23). His other 200-meter dash marks include 21.96 at Westfield (4/16), 22.08 twice, and 22.50 at the Corsair Classic (4/2).
A back-to-back All-Region recipient in the 400-meter dash, Rodgers finished the 2022 campaign in sole possession of the top time in the region. His program record mark of 52.44 at the NCAA Championships on May 26 was good for fifth in the nation and Rodgers' second-straight All-America honor. The LEC Track Athlete of the Year and Fall River, Mass. native, Rodgers' other notable times in the event were at Coast Guard where he clocked 53.39 (4/9), 53.69 at the LEC Championships (4/30), and 54.87 at the Corsair Classic (4/2).
Named All-Region for the second-straight year as well, Volkmann holds the fifth-best javelin throw in the region. His throw of 55.68m at the LEC Championships (4/30) won him the individual championship in the event. From Taunton, Mass., Volkmann had strong throws this season of 53.53m at Westfield (4/16) and 53.16m at the New England Championships (5/7).
Richard's javelin throw of 56.14m at the MIT Final Qualifier on May 19 was good for the fourth longest distance in the region. A native of Plymouth, Mass., Richard improved throughout the season, saving his best for the last meet he competed in.
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